Machine for applying labels and the like to bottles and other articles.



8 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS AND THE LIKE TO BOTTLES ANDOTHER ARTICLES.

APPLIGATIOH FILED JULY 13.1905.

mm m & m \R m m\ R hm PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

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B. W. TUCKER.

ARTICLES.

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MACHINE FOB APPLYING LABELS AND THE LIKE TO BOTTLES AND OTHER No.866,091. EATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907,

B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE ESE APPLYING LABELS AND THE LIKE TO BOTTLES ANDOTHER ARTICLES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 13. 1905.

I a SHEETS-SHEET s.

N0. 866ml. PATENTED SEPT.1'7, 1907.

. B..w. TUCKER. MAGHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS AND THE LIKE TO BOTTLES ANDOTHER ARTICLES.

APPLIOATION'E'ILED JULY 13.1905.

8 SEEETS-SHEET 4.

4 PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. B. vw. TUCKER.

LS AND THE LIKE TO BOTTLES AND OTHER MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABEARTICLES.- nrmonxon rmm JULY 13. 1905.

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No. 866,091. P PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

w. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS AND THBLIKB TO BOTTLES AND OTHERARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 1905.

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P 7* 2 @P 9k; 48 Q7 i. 4' 1 24 c I a l No. 866,091. PATENTED SEPT. 17,1907.

B. W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOB. APPLYING LABELS AND THE LIKE TO BOTTLES ANDOTHER ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 1905.

B SHEETS-SHEET 7.

Illlll IIII 1 l I ll I l l l l l l l l wefggo No. 866,091. PATENTEDSEPT. 17, 1907. B W. TUCKER. MACHINE FOR APPLYING LABELS AND THE LIKE TOBOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES.

APPLIOATION rum) JULY 13.1905.

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waoogo a! L 1 NITED" STATES 7 PATENT OFFICE. 5,

BENJAMIN W. TUCKER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR APPLYTNG LABELS-AND THE LIKE TO BOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

. Application filed July 13,1905. Serial 269,447.

of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essexand State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Applying Labels and the Like to Bottles andother Articles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in machines for applying labelsand the like to bottles, cans and other articles, and consists in'thenovel features, arrangements and combinations offidrtshereinafterdescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In its preferred form the machine of my invention comprises a travelingperforated belt or apron, means for creating air suction through theperforations thereof, means for applying the labels, one after another,to said belt to which they become attached by said air suction, meansfor applying paste to the exposed surface of the labels, and a rotarydrum for receiving the labels from the said belt and pasting mechanismand delivering the same to the bottles or other articles, said rotarydrum having perforations in its surface and beinghonnected ;with meansfor exhausting the air through the same,

' whereby the labels taken by the'drum are smoothly and evenly held andconveyed to the bottles or other articles upon which they are to beapplied.

The machine of my invention also comprises novel means for feeding andholding the bottles or other articlcs while they are being rolled at agiven point on said drum into the labelscarried by the latter.

The machine of my invention is new in its general combinations and inmany of its individual parts, and is applicable for applying labels orwrappers to various articles in addition to bottles, to which Ispecifically re for as illustrative of the utility of my inventionwithout meaning thereby to limit the invention only to use in applyinglabels to bottles.

The object of the invention is to provide an efiicient I machine forrapidly, smoothly and evenly applying 1ahols to bottles, cans and thelike and which may be adjusted to suit the varying diameters of thebottles or cans.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed descriptionhereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance withand embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a top View, partly broken away,of same, the superposed feed and delivery chutes for the bottles havingbeen omitted; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a portion of themachine on the dotted line 3-3 of Fig. 1, this figure beingsubstantially an end view looking at the right hand end of the machineas represented in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the machine onthe dotted line 44 of Fi Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section througha portion of the machine on'the dotted line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig.6 is anenlarged vertical section through a portion of the machine on the dottedline 6-6 'of Fig. 2, the line of the rdtary drum being denot'ed bydotted lines; ,Fig. 7 is a section of aportion'ofthe ma chine on thedotted line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of same on thedotted line 8-8 of Fig. 7; I Fig. 9 is a detailed vertical sectionthrough the hollow drum shaft and is presented to illustrate the cam andlink mechanism employed for controlling the feed of the bottles to theposition on the rotary drum at which they receive the labels; Fig. 10 isan enlarged end view of the machine takcn fromthe left hand end ofv Fig.1; Fig. 11 is a detached top view, partly broken away, of the feed chutefor delivering the bottles to be labeled, and Fig. 12 is a horizontalsection through a-portion of the machine on the dotted line 1212 of Fig.1.

In the drawings (Fig. 4), 20 designates the main driv-. ing shaft, 21the shaft driven, with an intermittent motion therefrom, 22 theperforated belt, which'has an intermittent motion, 23 v the pastingmechanism to which the labels are, .one after another, conveyed by saidbelt, 24 the partly perforated suction drum by which the labels areconveyed from the pasting mechanism to a point where they are rolledupon the bottles, one of which numbered 25, is shown in position toreceive a label, and 26, 27 denote rubber covered rollers between whichand the drum 24, the bottles 25 have a rolling action, under theinfluence of the drum 24, while the labels are being applied thereto.The bottles 25 are fed to the'machine on a feed chute 28 and aredischarged-upon adelivery chute 29. The'labels will preferably beautomatically supplied to the perforatedbelt 22 by means of a labelholder 30 hereinafter described." i i The shaft 20 receives its motionfrom a drive wheel 31 which is free upon the projecting end of the shaft21 and has connected with it, in the usual manner,'a pinion wheel 32(Fig. 10) which engages a gear wheel 33 secured upon the shaft 20. Theshaft 20 therefore has a continuous motion while-poweris applied to thebelt wheel 31. The shaft 21 has an intermittent motion impartedto itfrom the shaft 20 through a customary Geneva mechanism (Figs 1, 2, 4,10) comprising the slotted plate 34 secured upon the shaft 21 and acooperating crank arm 35 secured upon the shaft 20'and carryingiat itsend a small trundle wheel 36 to engage; in succession, the slots of saidplate 34, the said wheel,

36 being shown in Fig. 4 as just about entering one of said slots. Thecasting carrying the arm 35 is formed with the usual segmental lockingplate 37 to engage and move in the concave recesses 38 in the plate 34for locking the latter and the shaft 21 stationary during the periodsthat the crank arm 35 is leaving one of the slots in the plate 34 andmoving through space to reach and enter the next adjoining slot insaid'plate. The plate 34, crank arm 35 and segmental lock 37 are offamiliar form and construction and therefore require no furtherdescription, their purpose being merely to impart intermittent rotationto the shaft 21 fronr'theconstantly rotating shaft 20.

The perforated belt 22 is mounted upon a drum-39 and shaft 40, and saiddrum 39 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 20 and has an intermittentmotion imparted to it from the shaft 21 through the large gear wheel 42secured on said shaft 21 and the pinion wheel 43 which -is connectedwith said drum 39, said pinion wheel 43 having, as shown in F ig. 2, asleeve 44 which enters the hub end of said drum and is secured to thelatter by a screw 45. The drum 39 has therefore an intermittent motionand imparts the same to the perforated belt 22.

The drum 39 is formed with end annular flanges 46 (Fig. 2) to retain thebelt 22 thereon. The shaft 40 is mounted between the sides of a frame47, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and the bearings for the ends of saidshaft project outwardly beyond the same, as at 48 (Fig. 2), to serve asguides for centering the belt 22 upon said shaft40.

The frame 47 forms within it an air chamber 49 whose lower wall 50 isslotted from end to end, as at 51 (Figs. 1 4 and 5) so that said lowerwall 50 is in the form of a grating, the bars or sections of said wallbeing connected by lugs 52 which do not extend downwardly to the loweredges of said bars, whereby belowsaid lugs 52 are formed air spaces 53,this construction being provided so that the air suction acting throughthe chamber 49 80 and slots 51 may operate against the maximum surfaceof the belt 22. The air chamber 49 is in communication with a pipe 54(Fig. 5) to which a suction blower or other air exhaust apparatus, notshown, may be connected for creating air suction upwardly through the 85perforated belt 22 and lower wall 50 of the air chamber 49, for thepurpose of causing a label to become attached-to said belt, ashereinafter explained, and the said pipe 54 is provided with anautomatic valve 55 whose stem 56 is encompassed by a coiled spring whichnormally operates to hold the valve 55 in closed position. The valve 55is tripped to open when it is desired to create air suction within thechamber 49 for removing a label from the label holder 30 and enable thebelt 22 to convey the same to the paste mechanism '23,

and thereafter said valve 55 is allowed to close, the

the inner end of which is forked to engage the valve stem 56 and theother end of which carries a small wheel in engagement with theperiphery of the cam 58 secured on the shaft 20. With each rotation ofthe shaft 20 the cam 58 will open the valve and hold the 55 same openduring a sufficient period for the belt 22 to take a label from theholder 30 and convey the same to the drum 24, the valve 55 closing afterthe label has become properly attached to said drum. The frame 47 isformed with vertical upwardlyv extending side sections 59 which aresecured by bolts 60 to the machine frame (Figs. 1 and 2), and in thesaid side sections 59 are formed recesses 61 (Fig. 5) in which areguided bearing blocks carried upon the ends of the belt tightener roller62, the latter being pressed downwardly against the upper reach of thebelt'22 by means of spri ngs 63. The purpose of the roller 62 is to keepthe belt 22 taut.

The perforated belt 22 is designed to remove the labels one "afteranother from the label holder 30 and deliver them to the pastingmechanism 23 and drum 24, and hence I will first describe said holder 30and then the pasting mechanism and drum 24.

The holder 30 is not of unusual construction and comprises a verticallymovable frame-64 (Figs. 1 and 4) having upwardly extending fingers orarms 65 whose upper ends have inwardly extending points 66 to engage theupper edges of a stack of labels 166 (Fig. 10) confined within theoutline of said arms 65 and resting upon the movable bottom 67. Theframe 64 is formed upon the upper end of a sleeve 68 which extendsdownwardly through an aperture 69 in the machine frame. The

movable bottom 67 rests upon the frame 64 and is connected to the upperend of a rack bar 70 which extends downwardly through the sleeve 68 andis engaged by a pinion wheel 71 which is carried by the sleeve 68 and isequipped with a spring 72 (Fig. 1) coiled around its shaft so that saidwheel 71 may normally act against the rack bar 70 to keep the bottom67pressed upwardly against the stack of labels placed upon it, whereby asthe top labels are removed from the stack, the bottom 67 may follow upand always keep the labels at the upper ends of the arms 65.

The entire label holder 30 is given a movement from its normal positionshown in Fig. 4, upwardly against the lower reach of the belt 22, fordelivering a label to the latter, and then back to its normal positionby means of crank-arms 73 integral with a sleeve 74 freely mounted uponthe shaft 21 and having at one end a short crank arm 75 (Figs. 1 and 10)which is pivotally connected with the lower end of a bar 76 whose upperportion is bifurcated to guide upon the upper shaft 20 and carries aroller 77 in engagement with the lower edge of a cam 78 secured upon theshaft20 and operating to at the proper time, depress the bar 76 andcause the crank arms 73 to elevate the label holder 30 and maintain thesame in its upper position until the belt 22 has had an opportunity towithdraw the top, label therefrom, after which the cam 78 permits theholder 30 to descend and the bar 76 to ascend with its roller 77 againstthe edge of said cam. The sleeve 68 is provided with a locking (log 79(Fig. 4) which is acted upon by a spring 80 to normally lock the rackbar 70 against movement and in opposition to the spring action of thepinion wheel 71. said dog 79 when it is acting against the rack bar 70preventing the gear wheel 71 from moving the same. 'The dog 79 holds therack bar 70 stationary and consequently locks the wheel 71 and thebottom 67, during the upward movement of the label holder 30 and alsoduring the downward movement of said holder and until the latter reachesits lower position, when said dog will strike the adjust-- able screwstop 8] and be moved to release the bar '70 so that the pinion wheel 71may then act to move the bottom 67 with the labels thereon upwardly tocompensate for the one label which was removed from the upper end of thestack when the holder 30 was in its upper position against the belt 22.One object in locking the rack bar 70 when the holder 30 is away fromits normal position, is to insure the removal from the stack of onlyonelabel at a time, this label being drawn by air suction against thebelt 22 and remaining there until the holder 30 descends. The points 66at the upper ends of the arms 65 prevent the bottom 67 from pushing thelabels upwardly from between said arms 65.

The paste-mechanism 23 comprises a tank 82 for the paste, a paste-roller83, a hot-water chamber 84, a Bunsen-burner 85 for keeping the water inthe chamber 84 hot, a cover and scraper 86 for preventing surplus pastefrom being carried upward by the roller, and a series of stripperfingers 87 which prevent the label from being carried around with theroller 83. The

- roller 83 is. directly belowthe shaft 40 for the belt 22,

and hence the belt 22 will carrythe labels against said roller 83 sothat their exposed lower surfaces may receive a layer of pastetherefrom. The paste-tank is in the form of a cast frame and is securedin position upon a dove-tail 88 connected with the machine frame, asshown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the said paste-tank being introduced throughthe side of the machine and being secured in position by means of' anordinary spring latch bolt 89 whose upper end enters a socket formed inthe lower portion of said tank.

The roller 83 is mounted upon a shaft 90 which is journaled in the endwalls of the paste-tank and at one end projects beyond the same, asshown in Figs. 1 and 5, and is provided with a pinion wheel 91 which isin mesh with a gear wheel 92 and receives motion therefrom, whereby thepaste-roller 83 is rotated. The gear wheel 92 is secured upon the sleeve93 extending to the left, looking at Figs. 3 and 12, from the left handend or head of the rotary drum 24, the said sleeve being connected withthe drum 24 and rotating therewith andcommunicating its motion to thegear wheel 92.

The drum 24 is hollow, as shown in Figs. 4' and 12, and about onelongitudinal half of its cylindrical wall is perforated, the other halfof said wall being solid. The ends of the drum 24 are closed by heads 94and said heads are formed or provided with central sleeves or tubularextensions 93, 95, which receive within them the air pipe 96, upon whichthe drum 24 is mounted and which is closed at one end by a cap 97 andopen at the other end to receive asuitable connection or pipe leading toa suction blower or other air exhaust apparatus of usual character, notshown. Within the drum 24 the pipe 96 is formed with a series of inletapertures 98 through which to exhaust the air from within the drum. Thepipe 96 does not rotate, and the drum 24 and its sleeves 93, 95 revolvearound said pipe. Within the drum 24 and rigidly secured upon the pipe26 I provide a rigid frame comprising a partition plate 99 extendingentirely across the chamber within the drum 24 and the segmental wings100 extending from the ends of said plate 99, the said frame comprisedof said plate 99 and wings 100 always remaining stationary and beingsecured to the pipe 96 by means of hubs 101 and set-screws 102. Theobject of the plate 99 and wings 100 is to subdivide the chamber of thedrum 24 into two sections so that the air suction acting through thepipe 96 may only. operate in oneof said chambers, whereby excessiveleakage through that portion of the drum notholding the label may beobviated. It is unnecessary that there shall be any air suction actingon the drum 24 intermediate the bottle 25 and. inner end of the belt 22(looking to the left from the bottle in Fig. 4), and hence the airsuction is corifined to that portion of the drum 24 which is to theright of the paste-roller 83, looking at (Fig. 4).

The drum 24 has a constant rotation and the air suction is constantthereon, and hence as the perforated wall of the drum moves to theright, looking at Fig. 4, it will seize the edges of any labelprojecting beyond the belt 22 and paste roller and draw the label alongover said roller in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 and finallyheld every portion of said label until the same is delivered to andwrapped around the bottle 25.

With each rotation of the drum 24 a label is delivered to and. wrappedupon a bottle 25 and the latter is dis-'v charged from the machine, andwith each of said rotations the perforated surfaces of the drum reach aposition to remove another label fromthe paste-roller 83. The drum 24receives its motion from a sprocket wheel 101 on the shaft 20, thesprocket chain 102 and sprocket wheel 103, the latter being on thesleeve 95 connected with one head of the drum 24 and being connectedwith thesprocket wheel 101 by said chain 102. I

The bottles 25 are fed to the drum 24 upon an inclined feed chute 28,over which is provided an inclined plate 104 which is secured andrendered adjustable toward and from the chute 28 by means of bolts 105entering inclined slots 106 formed in side frames 167. (Figs: 4 and 11).The plate 104 is also provided with adjustable downwardlyextendingflanges 107 held by screws 108 which pass through. slots insaid plate 104. The flanges 107 should be adjusted in accordance withthelength of the bottles 25,

the purpose being that the plate 104 should be in close relation to thetop of the line of bottles and that the flanges 107 should be inconveniently close relation to the ends of the bottles, whereby to keepthe bottles in proper line and guide them in regular manner to the drum24. The chute 28 extends downwardly close to the surface of the drum 24,but terminates at one side of the vertical longitudinal center thereof,as shown in Fig. 4, and the lower edges of said chute 28 are slotted, asat 109, (Fig. 11),to receive the fingers 110 (Fig. 3) of a curved plate111 whichis secured upon a rod 112 whose ends carry blocks adjustablysecured within slots 113 in the upper ends of oscillatory arms 114,whose hubs are swiveled upon the sleeves 93, 95 and formed withdownwardly extending crank arms 115 (Figs. 1, 3 and 9), which areconnected by links 116 with crank arms 117 secured upon the rock-shaft118, whose axial oscillatory, motion causes the said arms 114 to turnupon the sleeves 93, 95 and impart movement to the plate 111. The rockshaft 118 receives its movement from a cam 119 secured upon the drumsleeve 95, and a crank arm 120 which is rigid upon the shaft 118 andcarries a small roller or trundle, 121 in engagement with the edge ofsaid cam 119. The arm 120 carrying the roller 12] is pressed toward thecam 119 by means of a coiled spring 122 which encompasses the shaft 118and at one end engages the machine frame and at the other end pressesagainst the arm 120, as shown in Fig. 3. During the rotation of the drum24 and cam 119 the latter acting through the arm 120 actuates the rockshaft 118 and said shaft imparts its motion through the crank arms 117and links 116 to the crank arms 115 which are integral with the arms114. and hence the latterare moved to locate and actuate the feed plate111 from the cam 119. The plate 111 may be adjusted toward and from thedrum 24 in .accordance withthe diameter of the bottles or cans undertreatment, and likewise the outthrow of the plate 111 may be adjusted inaccordance with the diameter of the said bottles, and this latteradjustment may be secured by means of a stop screw 123 (Figs. 1 and 9)and toe 124, the latter being integral with the lever arm 120 and saidscrew being projected through the plate 125 secured to the machineframe. The feed plate 111 is utilized for two purposes and in performingits functions assumes three different positions, the intermediate onebeing that shown in Fig. 4, where said plate 111 is shown in a state ofrest supporting the row of bottles upon the chute 28 while one'bottle isbeing rotated into the label between the rollers 26, 27 and drum 24. Onefunction therefore of the plate 111 is to restrain the row of bottles onthe chute 28 from passing to the drum 24 at an improper time, and

another function of the plate 111 is, after a bottle has received itslabel and been discharged upon the chute 29 and the rollers 26, 27 arein correct position, to re-- cede toward the right, looking at Fig. 4,so as to permit the bottles to roll downwardly on the chute 28 until thelower one of saidbottlcs reaches the drum 24 and then to move toward theleft, looking at Fig. 4, so that the end of said plate 111 may engagethe lowermost bottle and push the same to its rolling position centrallyupon the drum 24 and against the roller 26, after which the plate 111will recede toward the right to the position in which it is shown inFig. 4, thereby leaving the one bottle upon the drum 24 and operating asa stop to prevent the row of bottles on the chute 28 from runningdownwardly to the drum. The plate 111 therefore pushes the bottles, oneafter another, to their proper position to receive the labels andrestrains the row of bottles from traveling down the chute 28 to thedrum. The bottles 25 when at the rolling point on the drum 24 liebetween the narrow lower edges of the arms 126, 127 (Fig. 3) which serveto retain the bottle against longitudinal displacement and insure theapplication of the wrapper or label in a proper manner thereto. The arms126, 127 are adjustable upon a transverse rod 128 so that they may bemoved toward and from each other in accordance with the length of thebottles to be treated. The arm 127 is also movable upon the rod 128 sothat after said arms 126, 127 have been adjusted and the machine is inoperation, the arm 127 may be automatically moved outwardly in adirection from the arm 126 while a bottle is being delivered to the drum124 and then toward the arm 126 so as to center the bottle and reach aposition for maintaining the bottle during the rolling action. I termthe arms 126, 127 as indexing arms; The arm 127 receives its movementfrom a cam 129 (Fig. 3) on the drum sleeve 95 and connected with thesprocket wheel 103, said cam cooperating with a double-ended pivoted arm130 carrying at its upper end a rod 131 which is pivotally connectedwith the said arm 127. The rod 131 is threaded at its outer end and isadjustable within a pivoted sleeve 132 carried by'the lever arm 130,whereby the throw of the arm 127 and its predetermined position on therod 128 may be regulated at will. The i lower end of the arm 130 is keptagainst the cam 129 by the pressure of a'spring 133.

The bottle 25 while under treatmentis engaged at three points about 120degrees apart, by the drum 24 and rollers 26, 27. The rollers 26, 27 arecontrolled in their movement toward and from the drum 24 by means ofpairs of cams 134, 135 secured upon the sleeves 93, 95 connected withthe dzu'in'24 and rotating therewith (Figs. 3, 6, 12). The cams 134, onebeing on the sleeve 93 and the other on the sleeve 95 correspond exactlywith each other and they are'utilized in cooperation with the roller 26,and the cams 135, there .being' one on the sleeve 93 and another on thesleeve spectively, Figs. 3 and 6, which respectively carry trundlewheels or rollers 138, 139 respectively in engagement with the said cams134, 135, so that said cams may move said arms 136, 137 and therebyimpart movement to the rollers 26, 27 connected with the upper ends ofsaid arms. The rollers 26, 27 are rubber covered rollers and are attheir ends blocks 140 (Figs. 6, 7, 8) which are adjustable by means ofscrews 141 in slides 142 to which the upper ends of the arms 136 and 137are pivotally connected by means of screws 143. The slides 142 areguided in dove-tail grooves 144 provided in the machine frame, and saidslides are normally pressed downwardly by means of coiled springs 145(Fig. 7), which, acting through the arms 136, 137 keep the rollers ortrundles 138, 139 against the edges of their respective cams 134, 135.The rollers 26, 27 are rendered adjustable by means of the screws 141for the purpose of adapting them to the various diameters of the bottlesor cans to be treated, and said rollers engage the bottles or cans witha yielding or sp'ring pressure. The rollers 26, 27 are shown in theposition they occupy during the rolling of a label upon the bottle'25positioned between them and the drum 24, and said rollers are permittedto remain in this position by the cams 134, 135 so long journaled inbearing as may'be necessary for applying the label to the bottle, butimmediately thereafter the cams 134 will elevate the roller 26 and allowthe then labeled bottle to roll to and upon the delivery chute 29, thishappening when the projecting portions 146 (Fig. 6) of the cams 134 aretraveling below the. trundles 138. Immediately after the said projectingportions 146 of the cams 134 leave the trundles 138 and permit theroller 26 to descend, like projecting portions 147 'oithe cams 135 willride under the trundles 139 of the ,arms 137 and elevate the roller 27,and at the samdltinie the feed plate 111 recedes from across the feedchute 28, whereupon the line of bottles25 will roll down the chute 28and the lower one of said bottles will rest upon the drum 24. Promptlythereafter the feed plate 111 will move toward the right, looking atFig. 4, and drive the said lower bottle into its rolling position upagainst the roller 26, and thereupon said plate 111 will reeede to theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 4 and the projecting portions 147of the cams 135 will pass from contact with the trundles 139 of the arms137' and allow the latter to descend and carry the roller 27 to itslower position against the then positioned bottle, which is the positionof the parts shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The roller cooper to'be fed to thedrum 24, the plate 111 receding for this purpose; and thereupon theplate 111 drives the said bottle to position against the roller 26, theroller 27 descends to engage the bottle, and the plate 111 withdraws toits intermediate position to restrain the series of bottles on the feedchute 28 from rolling downwardly to the drum 24.

The delivery chute 29 is of ordinary character and comprises an inclinedframe covering over the top of the machine and leading downwardly fromthe rotary rolling drum 24, the lower portion of said frame beingextended over the upper portion of the drum 39,, as shown in Fig. 4,andhaving a hood portion 170 which covers over the crank 35 andsegmental lock 37 on the shaft 20.

I have hereinbefore described the construction of the entire machine,and the operation of the machine will be largely understood from thedetailed explanation hereinbefore given. 'The bottles to be labeled arefed downwardly upon the chute 28 and one bottle at a time is deliveredto the rolling drum or cylinder 24 where it is held by the rollers 26,27, the rotation of the drum serving to rotate the bottle. The labelsare held by belt 22 when it is desired that the latter shall remove alabel from said stack. The belt 22 has an intermittent traveling motionimparted to it and is connected with air suction apparatus, and saidbelt 22 remains stationary when the label holder 30 is pressing thestack of labels against it. After the label holder 30 has descended'andthe top label has been taken by the belt 22, the latter will carry thelabel toward the drum 24 and against the paste-roller 83, which appliespaste to the lower exposed surface of the label. After the belt 22 hasmoved the forward end of the label against the paste-roller, the latter,being in motion, will aid in moving the label toward the drum 24, andsaid drum will, by means of the air suction, engage the label and carryit along over the roller 83, untilfinally the entire label has becomeattached to said drum by means of the air suction created within the airchamber thereof. The label is prevented from being carried around theroller 83 by the presence of the stripperfingers 87. The label taken bythe drum 24 is carried by the latter to the bottle 25 held thereon, andwhen the label reaches the bottle, the latter being in rolling motion,said label will adhere to and become wrapped around saidbottle, therolling of the label or wrapper around the bottle being gradual and thegradually decreasing unrolled portion of the label being smoothly heldby the drum 24 until it reaches and is applied upon said bottle. Therollers 26, 27 aid in pressing the label upon the bottle, and the airsuction within divides the air chamber at the right from the deadchamber at the left, looking at Fig. 4, of the drum 24,

and by reason of this location of the bottle 25 the label as it reachesand starts to adhere to the bottle becomes, at the central line of thebottle, relieved from the air suction, whereby the bottle is enabled toroll itself into the label. The partition 99 thus cuts off the airsuction from a section of the drum 24 so. that the label or the likearriving at said section becomes gradually released from the action ofthe pneumatic pressure and is enabled to be'taken by the bottlei Theupper and lower edges of the partition 29 are formed with flanges 171which snugly engage the inner surface of the drum 24 and aid incuttingoff the air suction from the dead side of the drum. The labelsare thus automatically removed from the holder 30 and given a layer ofpaste and automatically delivered to and wrapped upon the bottles, thelabels one after another being held by the air suction until finallycompletely wrapped upon the bottles, whereby a great saving of time andalso great uniformity in the result are attained.

I illustrate myinvention as embodied in a machine for applying andpasting labels or wrappers to cylindrical bottles, but I contemplate theemployment of said machine for applying labels, wrappers and the like toarticles other than bottles and therefore I desire it to beunderstoodthatmy invention is not limited merely to use in applyinglabels upon bottles. Nor is my invention limited to all of the detailsof form and construction shown and described, since these parts admit ofchange in form and arrangement without departing from the scope of myinvention as claimed.

What I cIaim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In a machine for applying labels or the like to bottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and provided with perforations in its surface, throughwhich the air suction may act to hold the label or the like on saiddrum, means for feeding the labels or the like, one after another, tosaid drum, and means cutting off the air suction from a certain sectionof said drum whereby the label or the like on arriving at said sectionbecomes gradually released, combined with means for feeding the bottlesor other articles, one after another, to said section of said drum,. andmeans for retaining the article on said section and permitting the sameto rotate under the action of said drum for eif ectlng the applicationof the label or the like, as the same is thus released, to such article;substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for applying labels or the like to bottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and provided suction may act to hold the label'or thelike on said drum,

means for feeding the labels or the like, one after another.

to said drum, .means for applylng'paste to the labels or the -likeduring their travel, and means cutting or! the air suction from acertain section of said drum whereby the label or the like on arrivingat said section becomes gradually released, combined with means forfeeding the bottles or other articles, one after another, to saidsection of said drum, and means for retaining the article on saidsection and permitting the same to rotate under the action of said drumfor elfecting the application of the label or the like, as the same isthus released, to such article; substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for applying labels or the like to bottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and provided 'with perforations in its surface throughwhich the all ,suctlon may act to hold the label or the like on saiddrum;

means for imparting to said belt an intermittent motion, a holder for astack of the labels, means for moving the stack of labels against saidbelt so as to enable said belt to remove the top label, means forapplying paste to the labels, and means cutting off the air suction froma certain section of said drum whereby the label or the like ouarrivingat said section becomes gradually released, combined with meansfor.feeding the bottles or other articles, one after another, to saidsection of said drum, and means for effecting the application of thelabel or the like, as the same is thus released, to sucharticle;substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for applying labels or'the'like to bottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connectlng the same with airsuction apparatus and provided with perforations in its surface,'through which the air suction may act tohold the label or the like onsaid drum, and means cutting oi? the air suction from a certain sectionof said drum whereby the label or the like'on arriving at said sectionbecomesv gradually released, combined with means for feeding the bottlesor other articles, one after another. to said section of said drum, andmeans for freely holding the article at said point so that the some maybe rolled by the action of said drum into the label or the like as thelatter is gradually released on arriving at said article: substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a machine for applying labels or the like to bottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and rovided with perforations in its surface throughwhich the air suction may act to holdthe label or the like on said drum,and means for cutting off the air suction from the label as it reaches acertain point in the rotation of said drum so that said label may begradually released. combined with means for feeding the bottles or otherarticles to said drum at said point, and means for freely holding thearticle at said point so that the same may be rolled by the action ofsaid drum into the label or'the like as the latter is gradually releasedon arriving at said article; substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for applying labels or the like to bottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and provided with perforations in its surface throughwhich the air suction may act to hold the label or the like ousaid drum,means for feeding the labels individually to said drum, means forapplying paste to the labels, and means for cutting oil the air suctionfrom the label as it reaches a certain point in the rotation of saiddrum, so that said label may be gradually released, combined with meansfor feeding the bottles or other articles to said drum at said point,and means for freely holding the article at said point so that the samemay be rolled by the action of said drum into the label or the like asthe latter is gradually released on arriving at said article;substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for applying labels or the like to bottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having meansfor connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and provided with perforations in its surface throughwhich the air suction may act to hold the label or the like on saiddrum, perforated suction means for feeding the labels or the like tosaid drum, means for cutting off the air from said suction means as thelabels or "the like are fed thereby to said drum, and means for cuttingoff the'air suction from the label as it reaches a certain point in therotation of said drum so that said label may be gradually released,combined with means for feeding the bottles or other articles to saiddrum at said point, and means for freely holding the article at saidpoint so that the same may be rolled by the action of said .drum intothe label or 'the like as the latter is gradually released on arrivingat said article; substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for applying labels or the like to bottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus, and provided with perforations in its surface throughwhich the air suction may act to hold the label or the like on saiddrum, a perforated suction belt for feeding the labels to said drum,means for applying paste to the labels, and

'drum, and means for means for cutting on the air suction from the labelas.i t reaches a certain point in the rotation ofsaid drum so that saidlabel may b gradually released, combined with means for feeding thebottles or other articles to said drum at said point, and means forholding the article at said point so that the same may. be rolled bysaid drum into the label or the like as the latter is gradually releasedon arriving at-said article; substantially asset forth.

9. In a machine for applying labels or the like to hottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and provided with perforations in its surface throughwhich the air suctlon may act to hold the label or the like on saiddrum, and "means for cutting 01? the air suction from the label as itreaches a certain point in the rotation of said drum so that said labelmay be gradually released, combined with means for feeding the bottlesor other articles to said drum at said point, and oppositely disposedrollers alternately movable toward and from said drum for holding thearticle at said point so that'the same may be rolled by said drum intothe label or the like as the latter is gradually released on arriving atsaid article; substantlally as set forth.

10. In a machine for applying labels or the like to hottles or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and provided with perforations in its surface throughwhich the air suction may act to hold the label or the like on saiddrum, and means for cutting oil? the airsnctlon from the label as itreaches a certain point in the rotation of said drum so that-said labelmay be gradually released, combined with means for feeding the bottles01' other articles to said drum at said point, and a pair of rollersindepcndently and alternately movable toward and from said .drum forholding the article at said point so that the same may be rolled by saiddrum into the label or the like as the latter is gradually released onarriving at said article; substantially as set-forth. I

11, In a machinefor applying labels or the like to hottles or otherarticles. a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus and pro vided with perforations in its surface throughwhich the air suction may act'to hold the label or the like on saidcutting 01f the air suction from the ,label' as it reaches a certainpoint in the rotation of said drum so that said label may be graduallyreleased, combined with means for feeding the bottles or other articlesto said drum at said point, and a pair of spriug-pressed soft-coveredrollers independently and alternately movable toward and from said drumfor holding the article at said point so that the same may be rolled bysaid drum into the label or the like as the latter is gradually releasedon arriving at said article; substantially as set forth.

label as it reaches a certain point in the rotation of saiddrum so thatsaid label may be gradually released, combined with a feed chute on,which the bottles or other articles are fed to the machine, a plate forarresting the line of articles on said chute while one article is beingtreated on said drum and then receding to allow the lower article ofsaid line to reach the drum-and then moving against said article to pushit to said where the label is released, means for imparting movement tosaid plate, and a pair of rollers independently movable toward and fromsaid drum for holding the article at said point so that the same may berolled by said drum into the label or the like as the latter isgradually released on arriving at said article; substantially as setforth.

13. Ina machine for applying labels or the like to hotties or otherarticles, a rotary drum having means for connecting the same with airsuction apparatus andprovided with perforations in its surface throughwhich the air suction may act to hold the label or the like on saidpoint on' said drum substantially as set forth.

drum, and means for cutting off the air suction from the label as itreaches a certain point in the rotation of said drum so that the labelmay be gradually released, combined with means for feeding the bottlesor other articles to said drum at said point, indexing arms for engagingthe ends of the article and locating the same on 'said drum with respectto the label, means for moving one of said arms toward the other andagainst said article, and rollers for holding the article at said pointso that the same may be rolled'by said drum into the label or the likeas the latter is gradually released on arriving at said article;substantially as set forth.

14. In a machine for applying labels or the like to hottles, cans andother articles, a perforated suction body for receiving and holding thelabel or the like and delivering the same to such article, and means forholding the article at a definite point and against said body, combinedwith means for'cutting off the air suction from the label as it reachessaid point so that the label may be gradually released, and means for.moving said body relatively to said article so that the latter may beby said body rolled into the label as the same is gradually released;

15. In a machine for applying labels or't he like to hotties, cans andother articles, a perforated suction body for receiving and holding thelabel or the like and delivering the same to such article, a pair ofrollers for holding the article at a definite point and against saidbody and means for independently and alternately moving said rollerstoward and from said article, combined with means for cutting off theair suction from the label as it reaches said point so that the labelmay-.be gradually released,

and means for moving said body relatively'to said article so that thelatter may be by said body rolled into the label as the same isgradually released ysubstantially as 3 set forth.

1G. in a machine for applying labels or the'lik'e to bot;

tles, cans and other articles, a perforated suction body for v receivingand holdingthe label or the like and delivering the same to sucharticle, and means for holding the article at a definite point andagainst said body, combined with means for applying paste to the labelduring its travel, and means for moving said body relatively to saidarticle so that the latter may be gradually rolled into the label as thesame reaches said article; substantially as set forth.

17. In a machine for applying labels or the like to botties, cans andother articles, a perforated suction body for receiving and holding thelabel or the like and delivering "the same to such article, a pair ofrollers for holding the article at a definite point and against saidbody and means for moving said rollers alternately toward and from saidarticle, combined with means for applying paste to the label during itstravel, and means for moving said body relatively to said article sothat the latter may be gradually rolled into the label as the samereaches said article; substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city. in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 12th day of July A. I). 1905.

BENJAMIN w. TUCKER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. C. GILL, An'rnua MARION.

